Introduction
What is it?
TNE is an in-office test that your doctor can perform to look at the esophagus passageway and the stomach opening and diagnose a problem with your esophagus or stomach.
How is it done?
- It involves swallowing a thin, flexible tube with a camera, that is inserted through the nose, into the esophagus and down to your stomach.
- TNE is simple and does not hurt. The doctor applies numbing medication to the nose and throat, and most people tolerate it easily.
When is it required?
When there are symptoms of:
- Difficulty swallowing or the sensation of food getting stuck (dysphagia)
- A foreign body sensation or feeling a “lump” in the throat (globus sensation)
- Heartburn or regurgitation
- Hoarse voice
- Chronic throat clearing and throat irritation
- Chronic cough and excess throat mucus
- Collecting a sample of tissue (biopsy) from the larynx (voice box), esophagus or stomach
- To widen a tightened area in the esophagus by inflating a balloon attached to the tube, or to inject medication into parts of the esophagus.
